Mr Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online Page A

suitor.
    'It is very pretty,' said Mr Woodhouse, always ready to praise his daughter. 'So prettily done! Just as your drawings always are, my dear. I do not know anybody who draws so well as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is, that she seems to be sitting out of doors, with only a little shawl over her shoulders. It makes one think she must catch cold.'
    'But, my dear Papa, it is supposed to be summer; a warm day in summer. Look at the tree.'
    'But it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear,' said he.
    His is a nervous disposition indeed. It not only objects to people sitting out of doors, but it objects to them being drawn as if they were out of doors, when in reality they are sitting inside by a fire!
    Elton plunged in again.
    'You, sir, may say any thing,' he cried, 'but I must confess that I regard it as a most happy thought, the placing of Harriet out of doors; and the tree is touched with such inimitable spirit! Any other situation would have been much less in character. The naivety of Harriet's manners--and altogether--Oh, it is most admirable! I cannot keep my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness.'
    I did not know whether to be amused or exasperated by his nonsense, any more than I knew whether to be amused or exasperated by the way Emma received it. She took it all as compliments for her friend, little perceiving that the flattery was all for her. I am sure of it: Emma is Elton's object.
    If she was not so young, and so dear to me, I would be amused and nothing else, but I am dismayed on Emma's behalf. She thinks she has only to throw Elton and Harriet together, and Harriet's pretty face will do the rest. But Elton will settle for a pretty fortune, rather than a pretty face, and oh! Emma, what will you think, when you perceive the truth?
    'We must have it framed,' said Elton.
    'Oh, yes, the very thing,' said Emma. 'It must be done well. I owe my friend no less.'
    'Can you not ask Isabella to have it done in London?' asked Mrs Weston.
    This Mr Woodhouse could not bear.
    'She must not stir outside in the fogs of December. She will take cold. I am surprised at your thinking of it,' he said to Mrs Weston reproachfully. 'You would never have thought of such a thing if you had stayed here with us at Hartfield.'
    Mrs Weston was admonished. I was about to offer my services, as I had to go to London, when Elton stepped in and offered to take it himself.
    'You are too good,' said Emma, smiling all the while. 'I would not think of troubling you.'
    'It is no trouble.'
    'If you are sure, then it would be a relief to have someone of superior taste to undertake the commission,' she said, and I saw a look of pleasure cross his face. 'I would undertake to wrap the picture very well, so that it will not give you too much trouble.'
    'No trouble is too much. That is to say it is no trouble, no trouble at all,' he said. Then finished with a sigh, saying: 'What a precious deposit!'
    I thought he had gone too far, and I was sure Emma would balk at that, but though she looked rather surprised she said nothing.
    I almost said something, but I decided against it, for no doubt the muddle will be cleared up soon. Harriet will take no hurt from it, for I am sure Emma will not have raised false hopes by mentioning her scheme to her friend--that would be going too far, even for Emma!--but there will be a reckoning with Elton, and I hope Emma will be chastened. Once she stops trying to live Elton's life, I hope she might put more effort into living her own.
    Thursday 3 December
    I was more pleased than ever that Emma had given a little polish to Harriet, and that she had removed some of her schoolgirl habits, for I have had a very interesting visit from Robert Martin today. He called at Donwell Abbey this evening and he asked if I could spare him ten minutes. I told him that I could spare him as much time as he needed, thinking he had come to speak to me about the farm. I was much surprised, then, when he stood in front of my